belgian experience: assistance for victims of human trafficking
TRANSCRIPT
OVERVIEW• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• LEGAL FRAMEWORK:– DEFINITION
– VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS
• VICTIM ASSISTANCE
• STATISTICS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• EARLY 90’s: media, studies, …
• TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN PUT ON THE
POLITICAL AGENDA
• PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION TO
INVESTIGATE SITUATION OF
TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN IN BELGIUM
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• NOT ONLY TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN
HUMAN BEINGS (ALSO MEN & CHILDREN)
• NOT ONLY SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ALL
FORMS OF EXPLOITATION
• POLICY BALANCE BETWEEN:
– NEED FOR SUPPORT & ASSISTANCE TO
VICTIMS OF THB (PROTECTION)
– FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED NETWORKS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THB (REPRESSION)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS:
• LAW 13/04/’95 10/08/’05
• MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVES ’94, ’97 & ’03 LAW 15/9/’06 MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVE 26/9/’08
• ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• TRHEE SPECIALISED CENTRES:
PAYOKE IN ANTWERP
PAG-ASA IN BRUSSELS
SURYA IN LIEGE
LAW OF 10 AUGUST 2005 DEFINING
TRAFFICKING OF HUMAN BEINGS
LAW OF 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 & MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVE 26 SEPTEMBER ’08 ON RESIDENCE PERMITS FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING (AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES)
= « VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS »
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
LAW OF 10 AUGUST 2005:• CLEAR DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING (ART. 433
quinquies CRIMINAL LAW) & DESTINCTION WITH SMUGGLING (ART. 77bis ALIEN’S ACT)
• COERCION/FORCE…: NO LONGER CONSTITUTIVE ELEMENT OF CRIME BUT AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE
• BELGIAN VICTIMS • DETECTION & IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS • DIFFERENT FORMS OF EXPLOITATION
DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING
• DEFINED FORMS OF THB:• SEXUAL EXPLOITATION • EXPLOITATION OF BEGGING• LABOUR EXPLOITATION: PUTTING
PEOPLE TO WORK IN CIRCUMSTANCES CONTRARY TO HUMAN DIGNITY
• ORGAN TRAFFICKING• FORCING A PERSON TO COMMIT CRIMES
AGAINST HIS WILL
DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING
VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS
• LAW OF 15 SEPTEMBER 2006• MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVES 26
SEPTEMBER 2008:INCREASE PROTECTION TO VICTIMS OF THB AND OF SMUGGLING IN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES BY GRANTING THEM, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT TO STAY IN BELGIUM & SOME BASIC RIGHTS
(CFR. PRESENTATION MR. HONGENAERT)
VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS
PRINCIPLES OF PROCEDURE:
MULTIDISCIPLINARY & INTEGRATED
INVOLVING ALL ACTORS
ISSUING OF PERMITS // STAGES IN
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
DETECTION & IDENTIFICATION BY
FRONTLINE OFFICERS: INFO &
REFERRAL TO ONE OF 3 CENTRES
VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR VICTIMS: NO CONTACT WITH PRESUMED
SUSPECTS ACCEPT ASSISTANCE BY ONE OF THREE
SPECIALISED CENTRES COOPERATION WITH LEGAL
ENFORCEMENT (COMPLAINT/STATEMENT)
VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS
PHASE I: REFLECTION PERIOD: ORDER TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY OF 45 DAYS
• NO COMPLAINT: VOLUNTARY RETURN / ILLEGAL SITUATION
PHASE II: COMPLAINT/STATEMENTRESIDENCE PERMIT 3 MONTTH & WORK PERMIT
PHASE III: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR RESIDENCE PERMIT OF 6 MONTHS & WORK PERMIT
PROLONGED TILL END OF JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
FINAL PHASE: CONVICTIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT
VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS
VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS – LlNKED TO STRICT CONDITIONS – CAN END AT ANY MOMENT:
ILLEGAL STAY OR
VOLUNTARY RETURN
3 SPECIALISED CENTRES SINCE ’94 ’95• PAG-ASA (BRUSSELS)• PAYOKE (ANTWERP)• SÜRYA (LIEGE)
DOUBLE MISSION:INFORMATION & AWARENESS RAISING (NATION. & INTERNAL.)PROTECTION & ASSISTANCE OF VICTIMS (PRIORITY!)
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM (CONSISTING OF S.A., CRIM., EDUC.…) STUCTURE:
LEGAL UNIT: LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCERESIDENTIAL UNIT (SHELTER): ACCOMODATION & PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORTNON RESIDENTIAL UNIT: PSYCHO- SOCIAL SUPPORT & TRANSIT-PROJECT
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION •COOPERATION WITH THE ALIEN OFFICE•COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONAL 24/24 & 7/7
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
REFERRAL LEGAL DEPT.
VICTIM OF THB?
YES NO: REFERRAL EXT.
WHAT DOES VoT WANT?• COMPLAINT PAG-ASA• NO COMPLAINT
• LISTEN & EVALUATE• ARE THERE CONCRETE ELEMENTS?• INFORM VoT ABOUT PROTECTION STATUS
NEED FOR SAFE RECEPTION SAFE SHELTER NO NEED FOR SAFE RECEPTION NON RESIDENTIAL CARE
• ILLEGAL/EXPLOITAT.• REFERRAL EXTERN.• VOLUNTARY RETURN
INTERPRETERPOLICE
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
•THE SPECIALISED CENTRES HAVE NO OUTREACH SERVICE •VICTIMS ARE REFERRED BY:
LOC. & FED. POLICE LABOUR INSPECTION SOCIAL SERVICES PRIVATE PERSONS: DR., CLIENTS, … VICTIMS THEMSELVES …
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
IF NO EMERGENCY: APPOINTMENT FOR « INTAKE INTERVIEW »:
• INTERPRETER• CONFIDENTIAL• TIME TO LISTEN• TIME TO EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE IN
CALMTH
UPTO VICTIM TO DECIDEASSESSMENT OF SITUATION: SAFE RESIDENCE OR NOT (SHELTER)
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
IMMEDIATE ACTION & RECEPTION
(24/7)• TELEPHONE-INTERPRETATION• FULFILL BASIC NEEDS: FOOD-BED-BATH
AND ABOVE ALL: REST!• INTAKE INTERVIEW WITH INTERPRETER
WHEN READY
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
EACH VICTIM IS ASSISTED IN THREE WAYS:
PSYCHO-SOCIAL ASSISTANCEADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCELEGAL ASSISTANCE
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
PSYCHO-SOCIAL ASSISTANCE:WORKING ON TRAUMA, SECURITY & PROJECT FOR FUTURE (INTEGRATION)EMPOWERMENT & TAYLORMADE SHELTER (RESIDENTIAL UNIT)
• TEMPORARALY ACCOMMODATION• SECRET LOCATION
NON-RESIDENTIAL UNIT:• SUPPORT IN PRACTICAL ISSUES OF
EVERYDAY LIFE
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE: •CONSULT WITH ALIEN OFFICE FOR RESIDENCE PERMITSLEGAL ASSISTANCE:•PREPARE & ACCOMPANY VICTIMS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE•INFORM VICTIMS ABOUT LEGAL SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES IN BELGIUM•INTERVENTION OF A LAWYER:
• CONSULT THE JUDICIAL FILE• REPRESENT THE VICTIM IN COURT AS CIVIL PARTY
(MORAL AND/OR MATERIAL COMPENSATION)
VICTIMS ASSISTED BY PAG-ASA IN 2011:
FROM PREVIOUS YEARS: 117
NEW CASES: 47
TOTAL: 164 CASES
STATISTICS
47 NEW CASES:10 SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 25 LABOUR EXPLOITATION7 SMUGGLING 2 COMMITING CRIMES0 BEGGING1 OTHERS
MEN 30 & WOMEN 17
STATISTICS